Summarised from an article researched and collated by Michel Martineau, February 2005

Longwood House was handed over to the French in 1857. The first Curator, Gauthier de Rougemont, appointed a French Security Guard for the house and the tomb. To maintain the properties, his successor Jean Claude Mareschal, rented land at Longwood, where he began farming, with Morilleau (the security guard for Longwood House).There was very little money after the fall of the French empire, so the second curator, Jean-Claude Mareschal continued the farming, with Morilleau, of the lands rented at Longwood, Deadwood and later, the Valley of Napoleon's tomb. Mareschal left St Helena in 1880 without being replaced; Morilleau took on the additional workload from the time of Gauthier de Rougemont. It was decided to recruit a guard locally for the Valley of Napoleon's tomb, at a very low wage. In 1895, Bazett Legg, aged 20, took up this post, which he filled for the next 50 years, during which time he was present at almost all the events connected with the French properties. He met historians, journalists, Royal Highnesses and thousands of visitors and yet his name was never mentioned – as far as we know - in any of their articles or their books. And yet all spoke about the "guard" ... a guard without a name.
A journalist from l'Appel au Peuple visiting St. Helena to report on the French Boer prisoners in 1900, wrote:-

 the tomb, under the supervision of the guard and current conservator is kept in a perfect state and the adjacent fences are cut and carefully maintained by a white inhabitant from the island who supervises the Tomb for more than five years.

The only time that the name of Bazett Legg was published, was to report a trivial news item. This news occurred on November 1, 1904.

 the supervisor of the tomb, one named Legg, missed being assassinated by two rascals who, in his absence, let themselves into his cottage. The guard, who had gone to Longwood to be paid some schillings for his weekly wage, was delayed by very heavy rain from returning to his cottage and this saved his life.
(from the book by Albéric Cahuet: "Après la mort de l’Empereur" - Emile-Paul Editions, 1913.)

Apparently the “two rascals” were Richard and Lewis Crowie, who then went on to murder Robert Samuel Gunnell, the watchman at Prosperous Bay House, for his pay instead. For this they were hanged on February 2 1905.

In order not to allow the guard's house at the tomb to fall into ruin, the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs authorized its repair. The curator at that time, Henri Roger, replaced, in February 1915, all the woodwork attacked by the termites and the roof slates, which, after more than one century, fell in dust. He replaced the roof with sheets, and, unfortunately made the same errors as those which were made in Longwood House a few weeks later – he bought at full price, materials to repair and replace the wood destroyed by pitch pine sold off on the island

because it was very vulnerable to the termites. After the restoration of the Torbett house (at the Tomb), he began work on Longwood House. Meantime he moved into one part of the guard house of the Tomb, being on his own as his wife and 8 children had already left the island, until he himself returned to France after the completion of the work at Longwood.

He was authorised to give the keys of Longwood to Bazett Legg who agreed to deal with the whole of the French Properties. He did so for two years, until the next curator (whose ship was torpedoed in 1917 en route to the island) arrived, receiving no extra money and indeed using his own money to pay the bills.Georges Colin arrived on the island on 6 Oct 1919, and found out the situation, discovering that his predecessor had taken for himself a large part of Bazett Legg's wages. Eventually the French Ministry of Foreign affairs refunded the total sum due to Mr. Legg.

M. Colin lived for the first two months in the house at the tomb, moving to converted apartments at Longwood House, giving as his reason that the house at the tomb was too small and damp. He always hated that house and avoided going there when he could.

Governor Peel organised the official ceremonies for the centenary of Napoleon's passing in 1921. M. Colin did not seem to be very enthusiastic. The inhabitants of the island placed many floral tributes on the tomb, but the French laid only two wreaths, and there were no telegrams from France. Bazett Legg was not invited, despite the fact that he maintained the whole of the French Properties. He resembled the place: modest, without claim, vanity or pretences and yet he induced respect and admiration in many who knew him.
His great contribution in keeping everything at the tomb clean and tidy was noticed in 1925 by someone as important as the Prince of Wales, who planted an olive tree there.
From 1935 Bazett Legg was put in charge of the French domains, as Georges Colin, who had been unwell for several years, virtually retired on island for health reasons.
Mr. Legg bought Alarm House, near the Tomb, in 1938 after he married. During the Second World War, his health worsened, and he died on February 2 1945, as M. Colin prepared to finally leave the island.  Georges Colin wrote to Paris:-

“Bazzett (sic) Legg having been very good servant on the French fields, during fifty years: I would like to propose, that he is granted an annual help for maintenance and the education of his son”

 “Bazzett (sic) Legg had been married for only 7 years when he died aged 69. His widow was only 39 years old. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepted this request and paid a pension to Mrs. Legg until her death in February 1985”

Article published in L’Appel au Peuple October 20, 1900

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